There are just three main things you need to worry about when it comes to preventing dementia, a review suggests.
Over the years everything from what time you go to bed to how much alcohol you drink has been linked to the memory robbing disorder.
But by looking at data from more than 20,000 older adults over 30 years, researchers found three lifestyle factors demonstrably outweighed all others.
Not having a hobby, being obese and being sedentary after age 60 were the biggest predictors of who went on to develop the disorder.
They also found that Americans who lived in the South were more likely to develop the condition, even after adjusting for factors like income. 13560353
So picking up knitting, going for regular walks and watching your calories are the most key factors to preventing the incurable condition.
Peter Hudomiet, an economist who led the study said: ‘This work provides additional evidence about actions that individuals can take to pursue a lifestyle that promotes brain health across the lifespan.’
Writing in the study, he added: ‘Other lifestyle and health behavior factors are not strong predictors of dementia, such as smoking, checking cholesterol levels, having flu shots, and getting mammograms, pap smears, and breast or prostate exams.’
Actor Christ Hemsworth found out he has copies of a gene that makes one more likely to develop dementia. The Australian is an avid gym-goer, and also enjoys surfing, boxing and football
The scientists suggest that learning about your risk factors could help people stave off age-related decline.
This is what Avengers-actor Chris Hemsworth,41, has moved to do after discovering he had a higher likelihood of developing dementia while filming a documentary.
He’s since found a renewed focus on sleep, stress management, nutrition and fitness, in an effort to reduce his risk of developing the disease.
Research has suggested that nearly 10 percent of adults over age 65 may have dementia – representing more than 7million people. This number is likely going to grow if current trends continue – affecting an estimated 12million people by 2040.
The research was conducted by the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit and research institution based in California and funded by the biotechnology company Genentech.
It included three separate studies focused on what factors put people at higher risk for dementia, and how they respond to it.
The first used a survey that has tracked over 20,000 older adults since 1992. The survey, called the Health and Retirement Study, asks people about their daily habits and health.
This included asking about hobbies. Some of the most popular included chess, word games, gardening, car maintenance and making clothes.
Using this study, they found that those who were obese, didn’t exercise and didn’t have hobbies over age 60 were more likely to develop dementia.
This was visible based on geography – with more adults in the South developing dementia than other parts of the country.
This pattern persisted even after adjusting for other factors like socioeconomic status.
Other factors, like if someone had a stroke earlier in life and lacked private health insurance also corresponded to a greater incidence of dementia.
In terms of other factors, like alcohol consumption, the researchers found that people who drank moderately had lowest risk of dementia, and that the risk was elevated both in people who never drink and who drink excessively.
The researchers didn’t provide reasoning as to why engaging in hobbies and maintaining physical fitness might have kept peoples brains intact for longer.
This isn’t the first study that has linked exercise as a key way to stave off memory-loss with age. This includes vigorous traditional exercise like running, but some studies have also found that even doing chores can offer a protective benefit
But research has shown hobbies help people feel they have a purpose in life and help them exercise their cognition, literally working out their brains.
Both these factors are associated with less accumulation of proteins in the brain related to Alzheimer’s, the researchers said.
On the physical end, regular exercise can help support healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow to the brain is thought to be crucial to long term health of the organ, since blood supplies nutrients key for thinking, health and memory, according to the Alzheimer’s Society.
On the opposite side of the coin, people who are obese often times have problems with blood flow, which could lead to a higher risk of dementia. Some studies have also shown that obesity can cause chronic inflammation, which can cause long term damage to the brain.
The second and third studies within the new RAND report looked at how people respond when they learn they’re diagnosed with dementia and what barriers they had to treatment.
They found that when diagnosed, about 25 percent sought help with finances compared to about 2 percent of people without dementia at the same age.
They found that they were also more likely to establish will and prepare to move to a safer location than people without a dementia diagnosis.
The biggest barrier to treatment was the out-of-pocket costs associated with getting memory care. 80 percent of respondents said they would get cognitive testing if it was free, but that number was cut in half if the test cost $300.
Study author Susann Rohwedder and a senior economist at RAND said this shows that making technologies that can provide an early diagnosis accessible may be key in keeping dementia patients safe.
She said: ‘Assessments provided individuals with information that may facilitate actions to prepare for the future’
